Thor: Ragnarok Begins Shooting, First Set Photo Arrives

2017 promises to be epic for Marvel, as the studio launches it's 'three movies a year' initiative. The first Phase 3 adventure to arrive next summer is Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, which wrapped last month. A few weeks have past, but Marvel isn't taking much of a siesta. While 4th of July is a nationally recognized holiday in the states, it's business as usual in Australia, where the third chapter in the Thor trilogy has kicked off production today. Director Taika Waititi confirmed that shooting has begun on his Twitter, sharing the first official photo from set.

The image in question is only exciting in that it proves Thor: Ragnarok is happening. We get to see that a number of the sequel's key production team has arrived on location, including VFX supervisor Jake Morrison, Executive producers Tom Hammel and Brad Winderbaum, writer Eric Pearson, production designer Dan Hennah and VFX producer Cyndi Ochs. It's unclear if any of the actors have yet arrived on set, or what is being shot today.

Thor 3 is being shot in Queensland, Australia. Production is expected to last through October with additional pick-up days scheduled for 2017. For the shoot, star Chris Hemsworth, who plays Thor, is moving his entire family to the Gold Coast for the duration of the shoot. The actor is a Melbourne, Australia native, with Cate Blanchett also hailing from the country.

Two-time Oscar-winner Cate Blanchett joins this Marvel Studios' adventure as the mysterious and powerful new villain Hela, along with Jeff Goldblum, who joins the cast as the eccentric Grandmaster, Tessa Thompson who will bring the classic hero Valkyrie to life on the big screen, and Karl Urban who will add his might to the fray as Skurge. Rounding out the cast for the film is three-time Oscar-nominee Mark Ruffalo, reprising his role of Bruce Banner/the Hulk from Marvel's The Avengers and Marvel's Avengers: Age of Ultron. Here's what producer Kevin Feige had to say about these new cast members in a statement.

"The continuation of the epic Thor franchise will be powerful and unique, and with the additions of Cate, Jeff, Tessa, Karl, and Mark to the cast we have the makings of his most dangerous and heroic adventure yet. The sheer, raw talent each of these actors brings to the screen can't be quantified. Having any one of them join the Marvel Cinematic Universe would be an honor, and having all of them is incredible."

Thor's new cast members join returning stars Chris Hemsworth (Rush, In the Heart of the Sea, Ghostbusters) in the title role for the fifth time; Tom Hiddleston (Crimson Peak, The Night Manager, Kong: Skull Island) as Thor's adversarial, adopted brother, Loki; Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award winner Idris Elba (The Dark Tower, Luther, Beasts of No Nation) as the Asgardian sentry, Heimdall; and Academy Award-winner Sir Anthony Hopkins (Silence of the Lambs, Nixon, Hitchcock) again portraying Odin, Ruler of Asgard.

Thor: Ragnarok, the third installment of Marvel's popular Norse Super Hero, is directed by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Taika Waititi (Two Cars, One Night, What We Do in the Shadows, Hunt for the Wilderpeople). Kevin Feige will produce the film, joined by executive producers Louis D'Esposito, Brad Winderbaum, Victoria Alonso, Thomas M. Hammel and Stan Lee. Production is slated to begin this summer, with Marvel setting a November 3, 2017 release date for Thor: Ragnarok.

Marvel hasn't confirmed any story details thus far, but this movie has been rumored to take both Thor and Hulk on a "cosmic road trip," after the villainous Hela banishes Thor from Asgard. Celebrate the start of production with this look at the set.